As Libya battles drought and climate change, a young farmer near Tripoli is pioneering aquaponics — a soil-free, water-efficient method that uses fish waste to grow crops. Could this closed-loop system offer a lifeline for the country’s struggling agriculture sector?
00:06They get their nutrients from the water of a giant fish tank.
00:11At harvest time, the lettuce seeds are just lifted out on their floating plant beds.
00:16This is aquaponics, where fish and vegetable farming work side by side.
00:24At our farm, Hydro Harvest, we grow all kinds of leafy greens.
00:27Latus, arugula, mint, basil, kale.
00:31We use a deep water culture system, meaning the plants grow in nutrient-rich water.
00:40Abdullah Alfandi's farm lies just outside Libya's capital, Tripoli.
00:45Human-induced climate change has hit this North African country hard,
00:49causing searing heatwaves and droughts.
00:51For Libya's 1.5 million farmers, such as Mohammed al-Zawawi, it's an existential threat.
00:59Al-Zawawi grows chard and pomegranates, but watering them is a growing problem.
01:05Like most farmers in this parched country, he relies on water supplies from the reservoirs of Libya's great man-made river project
01:13that funnels water from an aquifer under the Sahara, but the network has been damaged in the country's armed conflict.
01:22Mohammed is worried about his future.
01:25I've lost a lot of crops. I used to fill four trucks with produce. Now I can barely fill one, and even that's a push.
01:35I still try to sell what I can on the market, but we've had no governmental support.
01:42We have a long coastline on the Mediterranean.
01:45I really hope the authorities will invest in desalination, so farms like mine can irrigate with seawater.
01:52We have a lot of water.
01:57At Abdullah Alfandi's aquaponics farm, the water also comes from a reservoir but is used far more efficiently.
02:05It circulates between the fish tanks and the plants.
02:09The tilapia provide nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus through their excretions.
02:15And the plants help filter the clean water.
02:18In this closed loop system, palms keep the water well oxygenated.
02:26And there's another benefit. Regular Libyan farms often use pesticides with little regulation.
02:33Residues on the harvest can cause a range of health issues, as well as harming the environment.
02:38Abdullah's closed system gets by without pesticides and synthetic fertilizers
02:43and produces organic fish and vegetables with minimal water loss, making it a sustainable option for desert countries like Libya.
02:52As environmental scientists, we strongly support this kind of eco-farming.
02:59It avoids the need for chemical fertilizers, and even some of the poorly regulated organic ones you find on the market.
03:08Abdullah Alfandi was just 24 when he launched his aquaponics farm in 2023.
03:17Despite the large initial outlay and technical challenges, he got his project off the ground with a €20,000 grant on the EU's Libya startup program.
03:26He's now built up a loyal customer base for his organic produce, like this cafe in Tripoli.
03:37But for him, this is just the beginning. He wants to help improve food security in Libya and inspire others to follow his lead.
03:44Awareness is still lacking, and most people in Libya don't have much money to spend.
03:59But I believe change is coming.
04:01We are already seeing signs of progress.
04:07And when things shift, we want to be ready to lead a better market.
04:15Mohamed Al-Zawawi is also looking into water-efficient farming systems.
04:19He's realized you can get bigger yields in smaller spaces with multiple harvests per year.
04:31With more information and research becoming available, I'm seriously thinking about moving away from traditional farming to save water and reduce waste.
04:42I've already started using drip irrigation, and I'm exploring hydroponics as a more efficient, more sustainable option.
04:57Meanwhile, Abdullah Al-Fandi is constantly refining his system and has added Azolla to the growing cycle.
05:03The plant, also known as mosquito fun, covers the surface of the water, reducing evaporation and keeping mosquitoes from laying eggs.
05:14It's also packed with protein and makes perfect food for his fish.
05:19Organic aquaponics could play a big part in future agriculture in Libya.
05:24Where innovation isn't just smart, it's essential.
